Spicy Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon and Parmesan

You guys, I have been sleeping on this recipe for quite a while! This recipe is one I have made for such a long time, and I just never considered it “big” enough of a recipe to share! Well, I finally realized the last time I made it that it needs to be shared!  I wanted to wait and share it when I had some fresh green beans in the garden, but that’s a couple on months away! We just planted the seeds. So I decided to share it anyways using canned green beans, because this legit tastes amazing with fresh or canned! These spicy sauteed green beans with bacon and parmesan are the easiest and yummiest side to just about any dish!

I have to admit, these are going to be a side dish many won’t think taste as good as they look. I promise you, I never think of green beans as the best and most flavorful side dish but my gosh these are amazing, and with the simple ingredients, you cannot go wrong with these amazing flavors! If you decided to make them with canned green beans, you can make these in no time!

What I love about this easy side dish is that it is easily adjusted or you can easily add other elements to the dish like mushrooms, or even do a vegetable medley sauté . This is the perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner. You can use french style canned beans, or use fresh string beans. The only difference really is the amount you might want to cook these depending on if you use fresh green beans.

Green beans are full of amazing vitamins and minerals including:

• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin C.
• Vitamin K.
• Folate.
• Thiamine.
• Niacin.
• Calcium.
• Iron.

Lets talk about how to make these easy sautéed green beans:

First you want to get a large skillet or saute pan, and heat butter in the pan on medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add fresh minced garlic and minced onion. Cook the mixture until the sautéed onions are softened.

Now, this step is dependant on what you want to use. You can cook up about 4 slices of bacon, or use bacon bits from the store. Its totally up to you. It all depends on what I have on hand and what’s the quickest. I love using real bacon but sometimes it can be a hassle. I have found that I can cook 4 slices of bacon in my airfryer in about 10 minutes. So, I usually will get it started before I start the side dish, that way I can chop up the bacon at the end and throw it in the skillet.

Okay now back to the instructions. Once the onions and garlic are soft, add the green beans. Now, if you are using canned green beans, all you have to do is sautee the beans into the garlic and onion for about 5 minutes or until everything is hot and cooked through. If you choose to use fresh green beans, you will want to cover them for about 10 minutes or until they are cooked to your preferred doneness. I like mine a bit more cooked. (You could also blanch your green beans before adding them to the sauté pan, its all about how you like it. The blanching step is not necessary.

Now you can add your bacon bits and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan and continue to sauté for a couple of minutes. The last step is to add grated parmesan cheese to the pan and give it a good stir. Turn off the heat and be prepared to eat the most delicious green beans you have ever had!

Now, if you choose to add more to this recipe such as mushrooms, then I would slice and sauté them with the onions and garlic whether you are using fresh beans of canned beans.

Get the full recipe to my Sauteed Green Beans recipe below~

This simple side dish is great for any meal. I try to make this more healthy by cooking the bacon in the airfryer where the bacon grease drops into the bottom pan. I have also used turkey bacon before with similar amazing results. This is definitely a comfort food side dish in my opinion. They flavor of the butter and the fresh garlic along with the parmesan cheese and bacon, oh man, its amazing. The crushed red pepper flakes add just a hit of heat to the dish which we love. But, it can easily be omitted if you do not want any spice.

There is minimal prep time with this dish. Making the bacon is really the only thing and if you get bacon bits, its all the easier! It is by far one of my most favorite ways to eat green beans! This sauteed green beans recipe should be on regular rotation. It is a great way to use those cans of green beans we all seem to have in our pantry.

If you don’t have any of these in your pantry, make sure to add them to your grocery store list! I made this the other night when we had my favorite beef stroganoff! It is a simple recipe but the flavors are great. It was a great compliment to the meal. This would also be a great recipe to make to accompany a holiday meal. Think Thanksgiving dinner! I am so on board for that! It would be a good recipe along with roasted turkey and some mashed potatoes! Dang, now I am hungry.

Out of all the favorite green bean recipes I have this by far takes the cake. I love an easy recipe like this. It doesn’t need much prep and can be added to meal plans, or made on the fly on a busy night. This would be great at a barbecue this summer too! There are so many options to have this yummy side dish on your dinner table.

I have some more of my favorite recipes at the bottom of this post! Make sure to check them out!

Amazing Creamy Garbanzo Bean Salad

How to Make a Healthy Chicken Salad That is Full of Flavor

Easy Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad

Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad With Homemade Balsamic Dressing

Air Fryer Roasted Maple and Balsamic Brussel Sprouts

Easy and Flavorful Stuffed Mushroom Recipe